THE county’s first £4.4m carbon neutral school building has officially opened.

The new sixth form block at Cooper School, in Churchill Road, Bicester, is ready for its first pupils in September.

Work on the two-storey building began last summer and eco building technologies were used in its construction to improve insulation and reduce energy bills.

It includes a high efficiency hot water cylinder, solar panels to generate electricity, and underfloor heating.

The second sixth form in the town gives young people more choice over where to continue post-16 studies, and is already fully subscribed with 110 pupils. Previously, pupils either went to Bicester Community College or elsewhere in the county.

Headteacher Ben Baxter said: “It addresses an historical anomaly whereby students have had to travel to providers across Oxfordshire and surrounding authorities.”

Oxfordshire County Council funded most of the building, but a £600,000 Government grant, part of eco town cash given to Cherwell District Council, was used to make it environmentally friendly.